Jamal Murray looks to repeat as MVP in the NBA’s Rising Stars Challenge

After lighting up the competition during last years Rising Stars game, Jamal Murray looks to reign as MVP in Los Angeles on Friday night.

Where: Los Angeles, California – Staples Center

When: 7 p.m. MST

Watch: TNT

Jamal Murray gave Nuggets fans a glimpse of the future during last years Rising Stars game in New Orleans. Murray went for 36 points on 13-19 from the field, 9-14 from behind the three-point line. Murray also dished out 11 assists and led his team, Team World, to a nine point victory over Team USA.

The Rising Stars game last year seemed to give Murray some confidence heading into the rest of the 2017 season and has ultimately turned into him starting 55 games so far this season. Murray struggled to shoot the ball to start this season, but has been dialed in the last few months and is now shooting 37.8 percent from behind the three-point line. Murray is third on the Nuggets in points per game with 16.3 and has scored 30 plus points in seven games so far this season. In last nights victory over the Bucks, Murray scored 26 points on 9-12 from the field and shot 5-7 from behind the three-point line.

This years game features some star studded players on both Team World and Team USA.

The NBA announced the Rising Stars Challenge participants. Once again, rather than doing a Rookie vs. Sophomore format, they'll do a World vs. U.S.A. format. Here are the rosters for both teams: pic.twitter.com/wwM1giKqAK

Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid highlight the Team World roster along with Murray, while Donovan Mitchell and Dennis Smith Jr. highlight the Team USA roster. The game is certainly going to feature some lights out shooting and some highlight reel plays at the rim. Both Mitchell and Smith Jr. will be competing in the dunk contest on Saturday night, and Friday night might just be a preview of what’s to come from those two.

This will be the first of two events that Murray is competing in during All-Star weekend as he’ll also be participating in the Taco Bell Skills Challenge on Saturday night.

Stay tuned to Dig In Denver for postgame coverage of the Rising Stars game and see if Murray was able to bring home another MVP award.